The Evolution of American Music from 1950-2013
Roots of music in America;
The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley started his illustrious career in the 1950’s performing Rock and Roll. This was a style of music that many in the United States could have argued was, “not music at all.” The era had begun and this “freight train” was not slowing for anyone. How did this thing called, “Rock and Roll” begin, and who was responsible for casting the die that would evolve to become what we all know today as Rock and Roll?
Early American Black influence on Rock and Roll;
Rock and roll’s earliest roots are predicated on styles of music developed primarily by African-Americans: blues, rhythm & blues, jazz and gospel. These styles, in turn, had their own roots, which can be traced back to musical traditions that were born in Africa hundreds of years ago. They were brought to America when the first Africans arrived in 1619, and as these styles took root and evolved, they peregrinate from the rural plantations of the Mississippi delta and the melting-pot metropolis of Incipient Orleans, up the Mississippi River to urban centers like Memphis and later, Chicago. Without these African-American influences, rock and roll, as we know it, would never have existed.
African-Americans contributed greatly to the advent and prosperity of rock and roll music. Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, or Bo Didley all played paramount rolls influencing music in America. One of the first true rock and roll musical compositions mentioned emanated from Joe Turner, ebony blues artists, who sang, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.” If one heedfully aurally perceives this musical composition by Joe Turner it should be very pellucid that this is one of the first true r...
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...ditional modes of ascendancy, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and differing interpretations of the American Dream. Incipient cultural forms emerged, including the pop music of the British band the Beatles and the concurrent elevate of hippie culture, which led to the rapid evolution of a youth subculture that accentuated change and experimentation. In additament to the Beatles, many songwriters, singers and musical groups from the Amalgamated Kingdom and the US came to impact the counterculture kineticism
Music Today in America; (American Idol/reality shows)
Over the last 50 years, as rock and roll itself has evolved, African-American music has continued to be a major influence. From soul to funk to hip-hop, styles of music developed by African-Americans have been incorporated into mainstream rock and roll and have shaped the definition of rock’s identity.
What do Clint Black, Bob Dylan, Toad the, Wet Sprocket, and Tina Turner have in common? Their music has its roots in not only the old murder ballads and the raw dance of poor southern whites, but also the blues, the hollers, and the sung of poor blacks. Black rhythm and blues and white country-western merged in such figure as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry in 1950s. Rock and roll was created by blacks and whites together as a new music filled with power and mystery.
The book depicts the story of culture conflicts of the music, which arose from the introduction of the foot-tapping, hip-swaying music now known as rock n' roll (Graarrq). The outcome of rock n’ roll coincided with tremendous uproar in the movement to grant civil rights to African American. Trapped in the racial politics of the 1950s, rock n’ roll was credited with and criticized for promoting integration and economic opportunity for blacks while bringing to “mainstream” cloture black styles and values (Altschuler). Black values were looked over and kind of not important to whites. Whites were very much so well treated then blacks were, however no one spoke out until the outcome of rock n’ roll.
This book provides a very detailed outline on how and where rock and roll originated. It places much emphasis on the transition from Black to White rock artists and how society reacted to this change. Szatmary also presents sufficient information on the many aspects of rock and roll, ranging from what the lyrics are about, to the beginnings of rock and roll and new age rock.
Rock n - roll In the 1950s rock-n-roll established its own mark in history. It spread throughout the decade in a thrilling, substantial, and even livid manner to those Americans trying to get rid of all sorts of conflicts and challenges that occurred during this time period. As exciting as this music was, the novel “All Shook Up” portrays how rock-n-roll brought many changes to the American culture and later to the sixties. It expresses many concerns such as race relations, moral decay, and communism, but in ways that are partially true.
20th century also brought African Americans and their music culture, which was more practiced by slaves. However, even before the African Americans came into music, blues music was already evolving leading to the development of other genres like country music, jazz to rock and classical music. Soul music came up as a result of rock and roll from the African American gospel, rhythm and blues. As the century grew bands were created like the bubblegum pop band comprised of blacks who created a new fusion of R&B and hip hop music that is still embraced till now. Rap music evolved from the Blues, rap music was made up of deep rhythms and autobiographical lyrics.
After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.
Being that African Americans were if not just getting their foot in the door as being looked at as human and beginning to be accepted in U.S. society at that time. Executives in the recording industry encouraged white artists attempt to replicate the sound of popular black musicians for profit. This resulted in music like rock-n-roll that is largely associated with whites and the African American pioneers who laid down the foundation for the music are forgotten or better yet not even heard of. Cultural appropriation is still remains a concern even
Although the birth of rock 'n roll is held to be debatable, primarily based on individual opinion, it is probable that its advent initiated during the 1950s. America experienced a great deal of post-war (WWII) economic prosperity in resemblance with the affluent Roaring Twenties. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said during this era that “America at this moment [stood] at the summit of the world” (History.com Staff 1). In comparison with the Jazz Age mania that endured throughout the Roaring Twenties, rock 'n roll served as the modus operandi, or method of approach, to a fresh and enlightened age: a step towards modernization. Above else, the music was the medium through which self-expression charged through the youthful minds, bold and unrestrained. With an increasing appetite for destruction and independence, America's youth relentlessly dared to question stagnant mindsets and authority by rewriting the rules of society, one record at a time. Rock 'n roll was their means to achieve that rebellion, "hardening parents and school authorities in their opposition to rock and roll" (Rockin' th...
Music has continued to change throughout each decade, but the 1960s was the most influential decade in the history of music. Starting in the early 1950s, rock music was first introduced. Major record labels were releasing new “cover songs” which were originally made by black artist, but now by white artist (Rock and Roll). These cover songs changed a few lyrics from the original songs to avoid copyright issues and to also make the song more appropriate for the white listeners. The biggest star of the 1950s was Elvis Presley, who was known as the “King of rock n’ roll”.
The changes in rock and roll music reflected the mood of the population in the United States during the Vietnam War. Rock and roll, written as rock ‘n’ roll, music was fully born in the 1950’s and formed from electric blues and gospel music. Rock and roll is characterized by electric guitars, a strong rhythm and youth-orientated music. This music became popular because of the children of the decade. Parents called this type of music “noise.” While parents were listening to calm music, their children were listening to rock n roll.
Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.
The development of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the late 1940s and early 1950s by young African Americans coincided with a sensitive time in America. Civil rights movements were under way around the country as African Americans struggles to gain equal treatment and the same access to resources as their white neighbors. As courts began to vote in favor of integration, tensions between whites and blacks escalated. As the catchy rhythm of Rock ‘n’ Roll began to cross racial boundaries many whites began to feel threatened by the music, claiming its role in promoting integration. This became especially problematic as their youth became especially drawn to ...
In the year 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, Sam Phillips opened Sun Recording Company. Their slogan was “We Record Anything, Anywhere, Anytime”. They were the first recording studio to record African American musicians. African American musicians played black jazz and blues that inspired Ike Turner to write and record “Rocket ’88.” (A&E Biography Channel UK “SAM PHILLIPS The man who Invented Rock & Roll”.
Rock 'n' roll came from a type of music called rhythm and blues (R&B), which consisted of doo-wop and gospel music. It was popular mostly in the south during the 40’s but it soon grew to urban cities. It was Les Paul’s invention of the electric guitar in 1952 that added a new sound and made rhythm and blues into the rock 'n' roll we all know and love today. Most of the artists from R&B were African American, and in their song they would reference sexual matters. So together it gave a bad connotation towards the music and their race, therefore both were never fully accepted in the north. The term “rock” was slang mostly used by African Americans meaning a form of music that was easily danced to. Meanwhile “roll” was usually a euphemism for sex, such as “a roll in the hay”. It was Alan Freed who first popularized the term “rock and roll” for this gen...
Powell, A. (2007). The Music of African Americans and its Impact on the American Culture in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Miller African Centered Academy, 1. Retrieved from http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Powell.pdf